"Took my car in on the wrong day initially and they were even willing to try and do the work that day if they had time, which I thought was excellent customer service. I didn’t leave my car and returned on the correct day. I had requested a courtesy car for the time my car was in the garage. This wasn’t a problem for them. The courtesy car was ready for me at no extra cost. All round excellent service."

What does a car diagnostic check do?

A diagnostic check is carried out on your vehicle by a mechanic, who will plug your vehicle into a specialised code reader. It can detect problems with your vehicle which may be difficult to spot manually.

The main components which are tested in a diagnostic check are the car’s:

electronic control units (ECUs) - these control various element of the car and its performance including engine running

emissions and exhaust sensors

braking system

electrical components such as central door locking

transmission if electronically controlled

ignition coils

throttle setting

fuel injectors

air flow and coolant

Why is a car diagnostic check important?

A diagnostic check is very important as it can detect a potential problem with your car, even before a breakdown. The computerised equipment scans your vehicle’s system to check for any faults, no matter how minor or major. A diagnostic test is a quick, easy and accurate way to discover any faults and will give you the chance to get them fixed before they turn into bigger and more expensive issues. When your car has a fault, this may show as a warning light on the dashboard. If the light goes out the system will store the fault code so the garage will find this when they do the diagnostic check.

What are the possible signs that your car needs a diagnostic check?

There are many different signs which will indicate that your vehicle needs a diagnostic check. Essentially, if you suspect that there is an issue with your car but don’t know what, you will probably want to book a diagnostic check to find out what the problem is. Here are some of the key signs:

Engine warning light - if the engine warning light appears on your dashboard, it’s important to take your vehicle to a garage as soon as possible as there is a wide variety of problems which the light may be flagging up.

Strange noises – any strange noises coming from your car need to be checked out before they turn into more serious problem. Some of these sounds may include; whining from the bonnet, abnormally loud exhaust, uneven engine noise, brake squealing or gear crunching.

Smoke - if you see smoke or steam coming from under the bonnet, your vehicle may be overheating.

Vibrating - if you notice any vibrating or pulling under your brake, the issue may be due to work brake discs or pads. However, it could also indicate a problem with your suspension or steering.

How long do car diagnostics take?

You can expect a diagnostic check on your car to take approximately 90 minutes. You may want to allow for more time though as the mechanic who will be carrying out the check might not be available to start right away.

How much does a car diagnostic check cost?

The price of a car diagnostic test can vary, depending on the garage that you visit. Each garage has a fixed price for diagnostic checks, ranging from £30 - £100.

Enter your vehicle registration number and post code into BookMyGarage (at the top of this page) and you can instantly compare diagnostic check pricing from all of the garages in your local area. As well as price, you can see the garages’ reviews, distance from your post code, extra services offered and availability. You don’t even have to register to get access to all of this information. When you have selected a suitable garage, you can choose a date, any optional extras (such as collection and delivery, loan car etc.) and book online.

Lots of people want to take their car to a specialist
garage for their make and model of car. Here atBook My Garage,
you can find one from the comfort of your sofa and get the car
service or repair you need for your vehicle.

TheBook My Garage database features hundreds of garages in your area.
If you have a garage in mind, you can find it here and visit their official
BMG profile page. If you would simply like to find a specialist garage
for your car brand, you can select the manufacturer then view specialist
garages and find out more about each before getting a quote or
making an appointment right there on their profile page.

How to be a better driver

Whether you’re driving in Oxford or further afield, think about road user etiquette. Showing respect for other road users
makes driving more pleasant for you and safer for everyone. For example, if you have to make a last minute change of lane, make
your request to change clear to the driver who will need to let you in - and signal your thanks if they do. Be ready to abandon
the change of lane if they won’t play ball - your safety (and that of other drivers and pedestrians) is more important than
getting to your destination in the shortest time possible. When the position is reversed and a driver asks your permission to
change lanes, allow them to as long as it is safe. If you get frustrated, avoid using your horn - it won’t improve matters and
might make them considerably worse.